Ryan Switzer

WR Ryan Switzer Retires

After two years spent off the field, journeyman wideout Ryan Switzer is ending his NFL career. The 27-year-old confirmed his retirement today on Twitter

“Unfortunately, in light of a recent injury, I feel I’m no longer able to meet the physical demands of the game,” his retirement message states. Switzer last saw playing time in 2019, his second year spent with the Steelers. Over the course of that 25-game stretch, he made 44 catches for 280 yards while playing a depth role on offense. Prior to that, in 2017, he played sparingly for the Cowboys.

Switzer is best known, of course, for his work in the return game. He totalled nearly 1,400 yards on kick returns (averaging just under 22 yards per runback), adding his lone special teams touchdown on a punt return.

The UNC alum – who holds the rare distinction of being traded twice in the same offseason, in 2018 – signed a reserve deal with the Browns last January, but didn’t make any appearances with them. There was still interest in him this offseason as well, as he visited the Panthers in April. The fact that he was unable to land a deal speaks to the extent of his injury troubles, which have ended his career prematurely.

“Although my playing days are over,” Switzer adds, “I’m looking forward to using the knowledge and experience I’ve accumulated to help the next generation of players through coaching.” With a second act already in mind, he can now turn his attention to a football career spent on the sidelines.

Panthers Host Rasheem Green, Ryan Switzer

Much of the talk around the Panthers right now is related to the upcoming draft, but the team is still combing through the free agent market. Carolina hosted defensive linemen Rasheem Green yesterday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). The day before, they worked out wide receiver Ryan Switzer (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). 

Green, who will be 25 by the start of the season, enjoyed a breakout campaign last year, the final one on his rookie contract with the Seahawks. In 17 games (including 16 starts), he posted 48 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Along with that production, he demonstrated the ability to play at various positions along the defensive line which made him a highly-touted third-round pick.

Green already visited the Ravens in March, so this meeting with the Panthers shows the interest he has generated. Rapoport adds, however, that the USC alum “has remained in contact with Seattle” regarding a new contract there. The Seahawks have added the likes of Shelby HarrisQuinton Jefferson and Uchenna Nwosu to their front seven this offseason, and met with Mario Addison as well.

Switzer, 27, has bounced around throughout his career. Traded twice in the 2018 offseason (from the Cowboys to the Raiders, then to the Steelers), he has only made 50 catches in 41 career games. He is most known for his return ability, with a nearly 22 yard-per-return average and three touchdowns to his name running back kickoffs. He signed a reserve deal with Cleveland last January, but hasn’t seen the field since 2019. In Carolina, he would add depth to a WR room headed by D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, and which also features the likes of Terrace Marshall and Rashard Higgins.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/21

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Waived: OL Bryce Hargrove, LB George Obinna
  • Reverted to IR: WR J’Mon Moore

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

  • Waived: OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, WR Jester Weah

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: WR Reece Horn, WR Riley Lees

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Waived: K Austin MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan Pope, OLB Max Roberts, DL George Silvanic
  • Released from IR: DB Dayan Lake

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Waived/injured: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl

New York Giants

  • Signed: QB Brian Lewerke
  • Waived/injured: QB Clayton Thorson
  • Placed on IR: LB TJ Brunson, OL Kyle Murphy, S Joshua Kalu

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Browns Sign WR Ryan Switzer To Reserve/Futures Contract

Ryan Switzer should have a chance to compete for a role on the Browns in 2021. The team announced today that they’ve signed the receiver/special teamer to a reserve/futures contract.

The former fourth-round pick earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2017, but he’s had trouble finding a steady home since then, spending time with the Cowboys, Raiders, Steelers, and Browns. His best offensive season came in 2018 with Pittsburgh, when he hauled in 36 receptions for 253 yards and one score. He was limited to only nine games in 2019, and he was eventually waived by the Steelers at the beginning of the 2020 season. He later caught on with the Browns practice squad, and besides a stint on the practice squad IR, that’s where he spent the majority of the 2020 campaign.

While Switzer has shown some ability on offense, he’s made a name for himself as a returner. The 26-year-old has returned 63 kickoffs for 1,373 yards (21.8 yards per return) in his career, and he’s returned 67 punts for 537 yards (eight yards per return) and one touchdown. Switzer was also a prolific returnman during his time at North Carolina, as he led the NCAA in punt return yards in 2013 and earned All-American honors in both 2013 and 2015.

Switzer won’t be the only Browns wideout heading into the offseason with a reserve/futures contract; the team previously inked WR Ja’Marcus Bradley and WR Derrick Willies to deals. Switzer (along with Bradley, Willies, and all other reserve/futures contracts) will sit on the Browns’ 90-man offseason roster with a non-guaranteed deal, and the pact guarantees that he won’t be scooped up by another squad. Teams are only allowed to use reserve/futures deals on players who weren’t on an active roster at the end of the 2020 regular season.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/30/20

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: DB Sojourn Shelton
  • Placed on practice squad IR: OL Badara Traore

Cleveland Browns

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ryan Switzer

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Terry Godwin

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Eric Banks

Miami Dolphins

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Tyshun Render

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Cody Hollister

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/20

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves. There are many.

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Thomas Ives, DT LaCale London, LB Manti Te’o; London and Te’o tested positive for the coronavirus

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/20

Here are the NFL’s recent practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

  • Released: C Cohl Cabral

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/20

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: RB Pete Guerriero

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

NFL Workout Updates: 9/29/20

Here are some of the key developments from the NFL’s workout circuit as of Tuesday:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Football Team

Steelers Trim Roster Down

The entire AFC North is now finished as the Steelers became the latest team to trim their roster to 53 players. Here are all the moves, we’ll recap the most notable ones at the bottom:

Lynch is probably the most well known of these names. The former Broncos first-round bust signed with the Steelers last year as insurance after multiple quarterback injuries. He’s running out of chances. Switzer has mostly contributed as a returner with Pittsburgh and Dallas, although he did have 36 catches with the Steelers in 2018.

Smallwood was one of the Eagles’ main running backs in 2018, but didn’t get too many touches with Washington last year. He’ll likely pop up somewhere else soon. Brooks Jr. was the Steelers’ sixth-round pick in this past draft, so he’s likely ticketed for the practice squad if he clears waivers.

McCullers has been with the Steelers the past six years so his is a significant departure even though the nose tackle only played 12 percent of the defensive snaps last season.